Gilded Age and Progressive Era

African Americans in the Gilded Age

120 minutes

This lesson explores the experience of African Americans during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. Students will explore the experience of African Americans during segregation, debates between African American leaders over best solutions, and the Great Migration through a historical narrative, primary sources, and student activities. Students will better understand the experience of African Americans in American history as a basis for a discussion of current events.

Founding Principles

Due Process

The government must interact with all citizens according to the duly-enacted laws; applying these rules equally among all citizens.

Equality

Every individual is equal to every other person in regards to natural rights and treatment before the law.

Federalism

The people delegate certain powers to the national government, while the states retain other powers; and the people, who authorize the states and national government, retain all freedoms not delegated to the governing bodies.

Freedom of Speech

The freedom to express one's opinions without interference from the the government is critical to the maintenance of liberty within a free society.

Inalienable / Natural Rights

Freedoms which belong to us by nature and can only be justly taken away through due process.

Limited Government

Citizens are best able to pursue happiness when government is confined to those powers which protect their life, liberty, and property.

Property Rights

The natural right of all individuals to create, obtain, and control their possessions, beliefs, faculties, and opinions, as well as the fruits of their labor.

Rule of Law

Government and citizens all abide by the same laws regardless of political power. Those laws respect individual rights, are transparently enacted, are justly applied, and are stable.

Separation of Powers

A system of distinct powers built into the Constitution to prevent an accumulation of power in one branch.